umpire

[Phil]

My son Eric who members know is in this forum is 11 years old. Eric has asked if he can put in to umpire ages 7 to 10 little league this spring/summer. I like his enthusiasm, but sometimes parents are abusive of umpires. Its not uncommon to have an adult and a kid working youth games I think its hard to get enough adult umps to go around. Sometimes they get a dad to volunteer because the guy scheduled is a no show. But I'm unsure. I hate to discourage him from a great learning opportunity but I don't want to expose him to the lousy side of it.

[Classicblast]

I think it's a good idea although I do understand your fatherly concerns there. I think the best way to get him into it is to get him started right away. Most younger kids don't like that kind of responsibility or pressure. Some may think they want to do it for the authority but once they get the treatment which comes with it they may feel otherwise. If you agree to it its important you don't let him quite if a game or two goes badly. Make him do at least a season before letting him out once he wanted in. But first discuss the pleasantries of the job before making that final commitment to the season.

I think if he gets into it at age eleven and is interested and studies the job by the time he is fourteen he will be as good at it as men over thirty.

Its no secret on this board I have some baseball experience.

And you're right some people use the umpire as a scapegoat especially when they believe that the person doing the job is inexperienced or too young for that job. Gives them an extra angle to blame their poor play.

I promise you this. If any one of the kids is a future major leaguer no one call is going to change that. A strike that should have been a ball or a safe that should have been an out is not going to ruin anyone's long term future. I think its a great idea if he wants to give it a try.